Flexible display apparatus

ABSTRACT

A flexible display apparatus includes a substrate, a thin film encapsulation layer, a plurality of spacers, and at least one layer of a blocking dam in the non-display region. The substrate includes a display region having a plurality of pixels and a non-display region adjacent to the display region. The thin film encapsulation layer is over the substrate. The spacers are between the substrate and the thin film encapsulation layer and are arranged around a pixel region. A different arrangement of spacers are in a center region and an edge region of the display region. The different arrangement may correspond to at least one of a size and a number of the spacers.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

Korean Patent Application No. 10-2016-0085073, filed on Jul. 5, 2016,and entitled, “Flexible Display Apparatus,” is incorporated by referenceherein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND 1. Field

One or more embodiments relate to a flexible display apparatus.

2. Description of the Related Art

Displays are used in a variety of electronic devices such as smartphones, laptop computers, digital cameras, camcorders, portableinformation terminals, notebook computers, tablet personal computers,watches, desktop computers, televisions, outdoor billboards, exhibitiondisplay apparatuses, dashboards, and head-up displays. Recently,flexible displays have been developed. These displays are easy to carry,have various shapes, and are largely based on organic light-emittingdisplay technology. One flexible display is made from a plurality offilms stacked in a laminating process. The films may be damaged duringthe laminating process and/or other manufacturing processes.

SUMMARY

In accordance with one or more embodiments, a flexible display apparatusincludes a substrate including a display region having a plurality ofpixels and a non-display region adjacent to the display region; a thinfilm encapsulation layer over the substrate; a plurality of spacersbetween the substrate and the thin film encapsulation layer and arrangedaround a pixel region; and at least one layer of a blocking dam in thenon-display region, wherein a different arrangement of spacers are in acenter region and an edge region of the display region, the differentarrangement corresponding to at least one of a size and a number of thespacers.

The pixels may be in an entire region of the display region, at leastone of the spacers may be arranged for each pixel, and the blocking dammay surround the display region. An area of the display region maydecrease away from the center region toward the edge region, and an areaof each spacer in one of the center region or the edge region may begreater than an area of each spacer in the other of the center region orthe edge region. The area of each spacer in the edge region may begreater than the area of each spacer in the center region.

A total area of a plurality of spacers arranged consecutively in oneline in the edge region of the display region may be equal to a totalarea of a plurality of spacers arranged consecutively in one line in thecenter region of the display region. A width of a portion of theblocking dam outside the edge region may be greater than a width of aportion of the blocking dam outside the center region of the displayregion. The larger-width portion of the blocking dam may be outside aregion where the larger-area spacer is arranged. The area of each spacerin the center region and edge region may be greater than an area of eachspacer in a region between the center region and edge region.

An area of the display region may decrease away from the center regiontoward the edge region, and a number of spacers in one of the centerregion or edge region may be greater than a number of spacers in theother of the center region and edge region. The number of spacersarranged in the edge region of the display region may be larger than thenumber of spacers arranged in the center region of the display region. Atotal number of spacers arranged consecutively in one line in the edgeregion may be equal to a total number of spacers arranged consecutivelyin one line in the center region.

The number of spacers in the center region and the edge region may begreater than a number of spacers in a region between the center regionand the edge region. The blocking dam may include a plurality ofblocking dams, and the blocking dams may be outside the display regionand spaced apart from each other. At least one functional film among apolarization film, a touch sensing unit, or a cover window may be on adisplay panel including the substrate and the thin film encapsulationlayer, and a region including larger-area spacers or a larger number ofspacers may correspond to a region where a greater lamination pressureis applied than a region including smaller-area spacers or a smallernumber of spacers when the display panel and the functional film arelaminated.

A first pressure may be applied to the edge region, a second pressuremay be applied to the center region, and the first pressure may begreater than the second pressure. A first pressure may be applied to thecenter region and edge region, and a second pressure may be applied to aregion between the center region and edge region, the first pressuregreater than the second pressure. The display region may be circular.

A thin film transistor may include a semiconductor active layer, a gateelectrode, a source electrode, and a drain electrode, a display devicemay be connected to the thin film transistor, and at least oneinsulating layer may be between the thin film transistor and the displaydevice over the substrate, and the spacer may corresponds to theinsulating layer around a pixel region where the display device emitslight. The blocking dam may be in a same layer as at least one of afirst insulating layer covering a portion of the semiconductor activelayer, a second insulating layer covering a portion of the gateelectrode, a third insulating layer covering a portion of the drainelectrode and the source electrode, a fourth insulating layer defining apixel region where the display device is arranged, or a fifth insulatinglayer arranged around the pixel region.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Features will become apparent to those of skill in the art by describingin detail exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawingsin which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a flexible display apparatus;

FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the flexible displayapparatus;

FIG. 3 illustrates a view taken along section line in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of a spacer and a blocking dam;

FIG. 5A illustrates an embodiment of first pixels in a display region,and FIG. 5B illustrates an embodiment of second pixels in the displayregion;

FIG. 6 illustrates another embodiment of a spacer and a blocking dam;

FIG. 7A illustrates first pixels in a display region and FIG. 7Billustrates second pixels in the display region according to anotherembodiment;

FIG. 8 illustrates another embodiment of a spacer and a blocking dam;and

FIG. 9 illustrates another embodiment of a spacer and a blocking dam.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Example embodiments are described with reference to the drawings;however, they may be embodied in different forms and should not beconstrued as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, theseembodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough andcomplete, and will convey exemplary implementations to those skilled inthe art. The embodiments (or portions thereof) may be combined to formadditional embodiments

In the drawings, the dimensions of layers and regions may be exaggeratedfor clarity of illustration. It will also be understood that when alayer or element is referred to as being “on” another layer orsubstrate, it can be directly on the other layer or substrate, orintervening layers may also be present. Further, it will be understoodthat when a layer is referred to as being “under” another layer, it canbe directly under, and one or more intervening layers may also bepresent. In addition, it will also be understood that when a layer isreferred to as being “between” two layers, it can be the only layerbetween the two layers, or one or more intervening layers may also bepresent. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.

When an element is referred to as being “connected” or “coupled” toanother element, it can be directly connected or coupled to the anotherelement or be indirectly connected or coupled to the another elementwith one or more intervening elements interposed therebetween. Inaddition, when an element is referred to as “including” a component,this indicates that the element may further include another componentinstead of excluding another component unless there is differentdisclosure.

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a flexible display apparatus 100.FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the flexible displayapparatus 100. FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view taken along aline in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the flexible display apparatus 100 mayinclude a display panel 300 which may be bent. The flexible displayapparatus 100 may be an organic light-emitting display apparatus. Inanother embodiment, the flexible display apparatus 100 may be a liquidcrystal display, a field emission display, or an electronic paperdisplay. The flexible display apparatus 100 may be a circular displayapparatus (e.g., a watch) or may have another shape.

A plurality of functional films may be arranged on the display panel300. For example, a polarization film 210 may be arranged on the displaypanel 300. A touch sensing unit 220 may be arranged over thepolarization film 210. An adhesive layer 240 may be between thepolarization film 210 and the touch sensing unit 220. The adhesive layer240 may include an optical clear adhesive (OCA). A cover window 230 maybe arranged over the touch sensing unit 220. An adhesive layer 240 maybe between the touch sensing unit 220 and the cover window 230.

The display panel 300 may include a substrate 301 and a thin filmencapsulation (TFE) layer 315 arranged over the substrate 301. Thesubstrate 301 may include, for example, a glass substrate, a polymersubstrate, or a flexible film. The substrate 301 may be transparent,opaque, or translucent (semitransparent) and may have flexibility. Thesubstrate 301 may include, for example, polymer material such aspolyimide, polycarbonate, polyethersulphone, polyethylene terephthalate,polyethylene naphthalate, polyarylate, and fiberglass reinforcedplastic.

The substrate 301 may include a display region D including pixels and anon-display region N adjacent to display region D. The non-displayregion N may include a connection region 101 for communicatingelectrical signals with an external circuit.

A barrier layer 302 may be on the substrate 301 and may cover the topsurface of the substrate 301. The barrier layer 302 may include aninorganic layer or an organic layer, and may include a single-layerstructure or a multi-layer structure.

A thin film transistor TFT and an organic light-emitting device OLED(which is a display device connected electrically to the thin filmtransistor TFT) may be located over the substrate 301. The thin filmtransistor TFT may include a semiconductor active layer 303, a gateelectrode 304, a source electrode 305, and a drain electrode 306. In thepresent embodiment, a top-gate type thin film transistor is illustratedas an example of the thin film transistor TFT. In another embodiment,the thin film transistor TFT may be a bottom-gate type.

The semiconductor active layer 303 may include an organic semiconductor,an inorganic semiconductor, or amorphous silicon. In one embodiment, thesemiconductor active layer 303 may include an oxide semiconductor.

A gate insulating layer 307 may be on the semiconductor active layer303. The gate insulating layer 307 may include an inorganic layer and/ormay include a single-layer structure or a multi-layer structure.

A gate electrode 304 may be on the gate insulating layer 307 and mayinclude a metal material with excellent conductivity. The gate electrode304 may include a single-layer structure or a multi-layer structure.

An interlayer insulating layer 308 may be on the gate insulating layer307 and may include an inorganic layer. The interlayer insulating layer308 may insulate the gate electrode 304, the source electrode 305, andthe drain electrode 306.

A source electrode 305 and a drain electrode 306 may be on theinterlayer insulating layer 308. The source electrode 305 and the drainelectrode 306 may contact a partial region of the semiconductor activelayer 303. The source electrode 305 and the drain electrode 306 mayinclude, for example, a single metal, an alloy, a metal nitride, aconductive metal oxide, or a transparent conductive material.

A planarization layer 309 may be on the thin film transistor TFT, mayinclude an organic layer, and may be have a single-layer structure or amulti-layer structure. In an embodiment, the planarization layer 309 mayinclude a composite stack of an inorganic insulating layer and anorganic insulating layer.

An organic light-emitting device OLED may be on the planarization layer309, and may include an intermediate layer 311 between a first electrode310 and a second electrode 312. The first electrode 310 may be on theplanarization layer 309 and may be electrically connected to the thinfilm transistor TFT. The first electrode 310 may function as an anodeand may have various shapes. In an embodiment, the first electrode 310may be patterned in the shape of an island.

The first electrode 310 may be a transparent electrode or a reflectiveelectrode. When the first electrode 310 is a transparent electrode, thefirst electrode 310 may include a transparent conductive layer. When thefirst electrode 310 is a reflective electrode, the first electrode 310may include a transparent conductive layer on a reflective layer.

A pixel definition layer 313 may be on the first electrode 310 and mayinclude an organic layer or an inorganic layer. The pixel definitionlayer 313 may expose a portion of the first electrode 310. Anintermediate layer 311 including an organic emission layer may be in anexposed region. The pixel definition layer 313 may define a pixel regionof the organic light-emitting device OLED.

The intermediate layer 311 may include, for example, an organic emissionlayer. As another example, the intermediate layer 311 may include anorganic emission layer and may further include at least one of a holeinjection layer (HIL), a hole transport layer (HTL), an electrontransport layer (ETL), or an electron injection layer (EIL). In anembodiment, the intermediate layer 311 may include an organic emissionlayer and may further include other functional layers.

The second electrode 312 may be on the intermediate layer 311. Thesecond electrode 312 may function as a cathode and, for example, may bea common electrode. The second electrode 312 may be or include atransparent electrode or a reflective electrode. When the secondelectrode 312 is a transparent electrode, the second electrode 312 mayinclude a conductive layer formed of low work function metals or acompound thereof and a transparent conductive layer on the conductivelayer. When the second electrode 312 is a reflective electrode, thesecond electrode 312 may include a conductive layer formed of metals ora compound thereof.

A spacer 314 may be on the pixel definition layer 313 and may have asingle-layer structure or a multi-layer structure that includes anorganic material. The spacer 314 may be around the pixel region. Thespacer 314 may consolidate the coupling of the substrate 301 and thethin film encapsulation layer 315. The spacer 314 may prevent displaycharacteristics from being degraded by an external impact.

In an embodiment, a plurality of pixels may be arranged on/over thesubstrate 301. The pixels may emit light of a combination of colors,e.g., red, green, blue, and white, or a different combination of colors.

The pixel definition layer 313 and spacer 314 may be formed through aphoto process or a photolithography process using photosensitivematerial. In an embodiment, the pixel definition layer 313 and thespacer 314 may be simultaneously formed by adjusting an exposure amountin an exposure process using a half-tone mask.

Various circuit patterns may be outside the display region D. Thevarious circuit patterns may include, for example, a power supplypattern and an anti-static pattern may be arranged therein. A power line319 may be on the interlayer insulating layer 308. The power line 319may be, for example, a power voltage line to which external power isapplied. The power line 319 may include the same material as the sourceelectrode 305 and the drain electrode 306. In an embodiment, the powerline 319 may have a three-layer structure of titanium (Ti)/aluminum(Al)/titanium (Ti). A circuit line 320 may be on the planarization layer309. The planarization layer 309 may include the same material as thefirst electrode 310.

The power line 319 and the circuit line 320 may be arranged in differentlayers. A portion of the circuit line 320 may overlap the power line319. One end of the second electrode 312 may be arranged on the circuitpattern 320.

The thin film encapsulation layer 315 may seal the display region D toprevent external oxygen and moisture from permeating into the displayregion D. The thin film encapsulation layer 315 may include at least oneinorganic layer 316 and 317 and at least one organic layer 318. In anembodiment, a stack structure of insulating layers forming the thin filmencapsulation layer 315 may be formed.

In the process of forming the organic layer 318 of the thin filmencapsulation layer 315, a liquid organic material may flow into anundesired region of the substrate 301. In order to prevent this fromhappening, a plurality of blocking dams, for example, a first blockingdam 321 and a second blocking dam 324 may be arranged over the substrate301. In another embodiment, a different number of blocking dams mayblock the flow of an organic material. At least one inorganic layer 316and 317 of the thin film encapsulation layer 315 may cover the blockdams 321 and 324.

The first blocking dam 321 and the second blocking dam 324 may bearranged around the display region D. The first blocking dam 321 and thesecond blocking dam 324 may be arranged to be spaced apart from eachother.

The first blocking dam 321 may be over the power line 319. The firstblocking dam 321 may include at least one layer, and may include asecond dam portion 323 on a first dam portion 322. The first dam portion322 and the second dam portion 323 may be stacked in the verticaldirection of the substrate 301. The first dam portion 322 may be in thesame layer as the planarization layer 309. The second dam portion 323may be in the same layer as the pixel definition layer 313.

The second blocking dam 324 may be outside the first blocking dam 321and may cover an outer edge of the power line 319. The second blockingdam 324 may include a first dam portion 325, a second dam portion 326 onthe first dam portion 325, and a third dam portion 327 on the second damportion 326. The first dam portion 325, the second dam portion 326, andthe third dam portion 327 may be stacked in the vertical direction ofthe substrate 301. The first dam portion 325 may be in the same layer asthe planarization layer 309. The second dam portion 326 may be in thesame layer as the pixel definition layer 313. The third dam portion 327may be in the same layer as the spacer 314.

In an embodiment, heights of the blocking dams may increase toward theedge of the substrate 301. For example, the height of the first blockingdam 321 may be greater than the height of the second blocking dam 324.

Because the first blocking dam 321 may block the flow of an organicmaterial toward the edge of the substrate 301, the organic layer 318 maybe located inside the first blocking dam 321. The inorganic layers 316and 317 of the thin film encapsulation layer 315 may be wider than theorganic layer 318. The inorganic layers 316 and 317 may cover an outsidesurface of the first blocking dam 321 and an outside surface of thesecond blocking dam 324.

The stack structure of the first blocking dam 321 and/or the secondblocking dam 324 may have a different structure in another embodiment.For example, the first blocking dam 321 and the second blocking dam 324may be in the same layer as at least one insulating layer among the gateinsulating layer 307, the interlayer insulating layer 308, theplanarization layer 309, the pixel definition layer 313, and/or thespacer 314.

In an embodiment, the first blocking dam 321 and the second blocking dam324 may be at a different position in another embodiment. For example,the first blocking dam 321 and the second blocking dam 324 may beoutside the power line 319.

The respective components of the flexible display apparatus 100 may becoupled to each other by a laminating process. For example, the displaypanel 300 and the polarization film 210 may be aligned and then attachedto each other using a plurality of rollers. Also, the display panel 300with the polarization film 210 attached thereto and the touch sensingunit 220 may be aligned and then attached to each other through aplurality of rollers.

In one embodiment, the flexible display apparatus 100 may be a circulardisplay apparatus. Thus, in the laminating process, it may be difficultto apply uniform pressure throughout the entire region of the componentsattached to each other. For example, different pressures may be appliedto the components along the traveling direction of a lamination roller.

For example, different pressures may be applied to respective regions ofthe circular display apparatus 100. According to one scenario, thesmallest pressure may be applied to a center region CR of the displayregion D and the greatest pressure may be applied to an edge region ERof the display region D. Accordingly, a crack may form in the edgeregion ER of the display region D, for example, due to an externalimpact.

The crack may occur mainly in the spacer 314 in the display region D.For example, the crack may occur in the first blocking dam 321 and thesecond blocking dam 324 in the non-display region N surrounding thedisplay region D. In accordance with one embodiment, the areas of thespacer 314, the first blocking dam 321, and the second blocking dam 324may be applied with uniform roller pressure in the display apparatus100.

FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of a spacer 410 and a blocking dam 510on/over a substrate 401. FIG. 5A is an enlarged plan view of a pluralityof first pixels P1 in a center region CR of a display region D in FIG.4, and FIG. 5B illustrates an enlarged plan view of a plurality ofsecond pixels P2 in an edge region ER of the display region D in FIG. 4.

Referring to FIGS. 4, 5A, and 5B, the substrate 401 may have a circularshape or another shape. A connection region 402 for communicatingelectrical signals with an external circuit may extend on one side ofthe substrate 401. The substrate 401 may include a display region Dwhere a plurality of pixels are arranged and a non-display region Noutside the display region D. The display region D may have, forexample, a circular shape or another shape. The non-display region N maysurround the display region D.

The display region D may include a plurality of pixels P1 and P2arranged throughout the entire region of the display region D. Aplurality of pixels P1 arranged in the center region CR of the displayregion D and a plurality of pixels P2 arranged in the edge region ER ofthe display region D may or may not be in the same pixel array. Therespective pixels P1 and P2 may include a red subpixel R, a greensubpixel G, and a blue subpixel B and may be arranged repeatedlythroughout the entire region of the display region D.

The center region CR may be a region that is pressed by the laminationroller at the center of the display region D, when the lamination rollerrolls in the opposite direction from the connection region 402 of thesubstrate 401. The edge region ER may be a region where rolling iscompleted on the opposite side of the connection region 402 after thelamination roller passes the center region CR.

At least one of a plurality of spacers 410 may be arranged for eachpixel P1 or P2. A first spacer 411 may be arranged for each first pixelP1 in the center region CR of the display region D.

A second spacer 412 may be arranged for each second pixel P2 in the edgeregion ER of the display region D. Each of the first spacer 411 and thesecond spacer 412 may be arranged in at least one of the region betweenthe red subpixel R and the green subpixel G, the region between thegreen subpixel G and the blue subpixel B, or the region between the bluesubpixel B and the red subpixel R.

The first spacer 411 in the center region CR of the display region D mayhave a triangular shape between adjacent ones of the red subpixel R, thegreen subpixel G, and/or the blue subpixel B. The shape of the firstspacer 411 may be different in another embodiment, e.g., a tetragonalshape, a circular shape, or an elliptical shape.

The second spacer 412 in the edge region ER of the display region D maybe between adjacent ones of the red subpixel R, the green subpixel G,and/or the blue subpixel B, and may have a shape surrounding at least aportion of one of the red subpixel R, the green subpixel G, or the bluesubpixel B. The shape of the second spacer 412 may be different inanother embodiment, e.g., a wave shape, a belt shape, or a zigzag shape.

In the present embodiment, each of the spacers 410 is arranged for eachfirst pixel P1 and for each second pixel P2. In another embodiment, aplurality of first spacers 411 and a plurality of second spacers 412 maybe arranged between a red subpixel R and green subpixel G, between agreen subpixel G and blue subpixel B, and between a blue subpixel B andred subpixel R.

In another embodiment, each of the first spacer 411 and the secondspacer 412 may surround a portion of the red subpixel R, a portion ofthe green subpixel G, and a portion of the blue subpixel B.

When the display region D is circular, the area of the display region Dmay decrease away from the center region CR toward the edge region ER.The area of each spacer 410 in one of the center region CR or the edgeregion ER of the display region D may be greater than the area of eachspacer 410 in the other one of the center region CR or the edge regionER of the display region D.

In the present embodiment, the area of the second spacer 412 in the edgeregion ER of the display region D may be greater than the area of thefirst spacer 411 in the center region CR of the display region D.

Thus, in the laminating process, the area of each second spacer 412 inthe edge region ER of the display region D where the greatest pressureis applied may be greater than the area of each first spacer 411 in thecenter region CR of the display region D where the least pressure isapplied. The greatest pressure may be applied to the second spacer 412in the edge region ER.

In an embodiment, the total area of the spacers 410 in each line of thedisplay region D may be uniform throughout the entire region of thedisplay region D. For example, the total area of a plurality of secondspacers 412 arranged consecutively in a line L2 in the edge region ER ofthe display region D may be equal to the total area of a plurality offirst spacers 411 arranged consecutively in a line L1 in the centerregion CR of the display region D. In order to apply uniform pressurethroughout the entire region of the display region D, the total area ofa plurality of spacers 410 arranged consecutively in each line of thedisplay region D may be uniform.

A blocking dam 510 may be in the non-display region N and may surroundthe display region D. The area of one of a first portion 511 of theblocking dam 510 outside the center region CR of the display region D ora second portion 512 of the blocking dam 510 around the edge region ERof the display region D may be greater than the area of the other one ofthe first portion 511 or the second portion 512.

In the present embodiment, the width of a second portion 512 of theblocking dam 510 outside the edge region ER of the display region D maybe greater than the width of a first portion 511 of the blocking dam 510outside the center region CR of the display region D.

The second portion 512 of the blocking dam 510 having a relatively largearea may correspond to a region in which rolling of the laminationroller is completed where the greatest pressure is applied in thelamination process. A region where the second portion 512 of theblocking dam 510 is arranged may correspond to a region outside the edgeregion ER of the display region D where the second spacer 412 isarranged.

In the circular display apparatus having the above structure, uniformpressure may be applied throughout the entire region during the processof laminating different components. Thus, a crack caused by an externalimpact may be prevented in the edge region ER of the display region Dwhere the greatest pressure is applied. In an embodiment, the area ofeach spacer 410 may increase gradually as the pressure of the laminationroller increases away from the center region CR of the display region Dtoward the edge region ER of the display region D.

FIG. 6 illustrates another embodiment of a spacer 610 and a blocking dam710 on/over a substrate 601. FIG. 7A illustrates an enlarged plan viewof a plurality of first pixels P1 in a center region CR of a displayregion D in FIG. 6. FIG. 7B illustrates an enlarged plan view of aplurality of second pixels P2 in an edge region ER of the display regionD in FIG. 6.

Referring to FIGS. 6, 7A, and 7B, the substrate 601 may be a circularsubstrate. A connection region 602 for communicating electrical signalswith an external circuit may be on one side of the substrate 601. Thesubstrate 601 may include a display region D having a plurality ofpixels and a non-display region N adjacent to the display region D. Thedisplay region D may be circular, and the non-display region N maysurround the display region D. The display region D may include aplurality of pixels P1 and P2.

At least one of a plurality of spacers 610 may be arranged for eachpixel P1 or P2. A first spacer 611 may be arranged for each first pixelP1 in the center region CR of the display region D. A second spacer 612may be arranged for each second pixel P2 in the edge region ER of thedisplay region D. Each of the first spacer 611 and the second spacer 612may be arranged in at least one of the region between the red subpixel Rand the green subpixel G, the region between the green subpixel G andthe blue subpixel B, or the region between the blue subpixel B and thered subpixel R.

The center region CR of the display region D may be a region that ispressed by the lamination roller at the center of the display region Dwhen the lamination roller rolls in the opposite direction from theconnection region 602 of the substrate 601. The edge region ER may be aregion where rolling is completed on the opposite side of the connectionregion 602 after the lamination roller passes the center region CR.

Since the display region D is circular, the area of the display region Dmay decrease in a direction away from the center region CR toward theedge region ER. The number of spacers 610 in one of the center region CRor the edge region ER of the display region D may be greater than thenumber of spacers 610 in the other one of the center region CR or theedge region ER of the display region D.

In the present embodiment, the number of second spacers 612 in the edgeregion ER of the display region D may be greater than the number offirst spacers 611 in the center region CR of the display region D. Thus,in the laminating process, the number of second spacers 612 in the edgeregion ER of the display region D where the greatest pressure is appliedmay be larger than the number of first spacers 611 in the center regionCR of the display region D where the least pressure is applied. Thegreatest pressure may be applied to the second spacer 612 in the edgeregion ER.

The total number of spacers 610 in each line of the display region D maybe uniform throughout the entire region of the display region D. Forexample, the total number of second spacers 612 arranged consecutivelyin line L2 in the edge region ER of the display region D may be equal tothe total number of first spacers 611 arranged consecutively in line L1in the center region CR of the display region D.

In an embodiment, the number of spacers 610 may increase graduallyaccording to the pressure of the lamination roller increasing away fromthe center region CR of the display region D toward the edge region ERof display region D. As in the embodiment of FIG. 4, the areas ofspacers 610 may also be different between the center region CR and theedge region ER of the display region D.

A blocking dam 710 may be in the non-display region N and may surroundthe display region D. The blocking dam 710 may include a plurality ofblocking dams, for example, a first blocking dam 711 and a secondblocking dam 712. The blocking dam 710 may include a different number ofblocking dams in another embodiment. The first blocking dam 711 may beoutside the display region D. The second blocking dam 712 may be outsidethe first blocking dam 711 and spaced apart from first blocking dam 711.

FIG. 8 illustrates another embodiment of a spacer 810 and a blocking dam860 on/over a substrate 801. Referring to FIG. 8, the substrate 801 maybe a circular substrate. A connection region 802 for communicatingelectrical signals with an external circuit may be arranged on one sideof the substrate 801. The substrate 801 may include a display region Dincluding a plurality of pixels and a non-display region N adjacent tothe display region D. The display region D may be circular and maysurround the display region D. A plurality of spacers 810 may be in theentire region of the display region D.

In the embodiments of FIGS. 4 and 6, in the process of laminatingdifferent components using the lamination roller, rolling is performedin the opposite direction from the connection regions 402 and 602 of thesubstrates 401 and 601. In the present embodiment, different componentsmay be laminated by pressing radially on the substrate 801 (as indicatedby an arrow) using a mold having a certain elasticity.

In this case, a region where the greatest pressure is applied may be acenter C of the display region D and an edge region ER of the displayregion D. The edge region ER of the display region D may be thecircumference of the display region D. A region where the least pressureis applied may be a region IR between the center C and the edge regionER of the display region D.

A plurality of first spacers 811 may be at the center C of the displayregion D. A plurality of second spacers 812 may be in the edge region ERof the display region D. A plurality of third spacers 813 may be in theregion IR between the center C and the edge region ER of the displayregion D.

The area of each first spacer 811 at the center C of the display regionD and the area of each second spacer 812 in the edge region ER of thedisplay region D may be greater than the area of each third spacer 813in the region IR between the center C and the edge region ER of thedisplay region D. A region where the first spacer 811 and the secondspacer 812 are arranged may be a region where the greatest pressure isapplied in the lamination process.

A blocking dam 860 may be in the non-display region N and may surroundthe display region D. The width of the blocking dam 860 may be greaterthan the width of the first portion 511 of the blocking dam 510 of FIG.4 and may correspond to the width of the second portion 512 of theblocking dam 510. Since the greatest pressure is applied along thecircumference of the display region D, the total width of the blockingdam 860 may be formed to be large.

FIG. 9 illustrates another embodiment of a spacer 910 and a blocking dam960 on/over a substrate 901. Referring to FIG. 9, the substrate 901 maybe circular. A connection region 902 for communicating electricalsignals with an external circuit may be arranged on one side of thesubstrate 901. The substrate 901 may include a display region Dincluding a plurality of pixels and a non-display region N adjacent tothe display region D. The display region D may be circular, and thenon-display region N may surround the display region D.

A plurality of spacers 910 may be in the entire region of the displayregion D. In the present embodiment, in the laminating process, a moldhaving a certain elasticity may be used to press radially on thesubstrate 901. Accordingly, a region where a relatively great pressureis applied may be a center C of the display region D and an edge regionER of the display region D. On the other hand, a relatively smallpressure may be applied to a region IR between the center C and the edgeregion ER of the display region D.

A plurality of first spacers 911 may be at the center C of the displayregion D. A plurality of second spacers 912 may be in the edge region ERof the display region D. A plurality of third spacers 913 may be betweenthe center C and the edge region ER of the display region D. The numberof first spacers 911 at the center C of the display region D and thenumber of second spacers 912 in the edge region ER of the display regionD may be greater than the number of third spacers 913 in the region IRbetween the center C and the edge region ER of the display region D. Aregion where the first spacers 911 and the second spacers 912 arearranged may be a region where the greatest pressure is applied in thelamination process.

A blocking dam 960 may be in the non-display region N and may surroundthe display region D. The blocking dam 960 may include a first blockingdam 961 and a second blocking dam 962. The first blocking dam 961 may beoutside the display region D. The second blocking dam 962 may be outsidethe first blocking dam 961 and spaced apart from the first blocking dam961.

In accordance with one or more embodiments, spacers having differentsizes are arranged in a display region. As a result, a laminatingprocess may apply uniform pressure.

Example embodiments have been disclosed herein, and although specificterms are employed, they are used and are to be interpreted in a genericand descriptive sense only and not for purpose of limitation. In someinstances, as would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art asof the filing of the present application, features, characteristics,and/or elements described in connection with a particular embodiment maybe used singly or in combination with features, characteristics, and/orelements described in connection with other embodiments unless otherwiseindicated. Accordingly, it will be understood by those of skill in theart that various changes in form and details may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the present invention as setforth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A flexible display apparatus, comprising: asubstrate including a display region having a plurality of pixels and anon-display region adjacent to the display region; a thin filmencapsulation layer over the substrate; a plurality of spacers betweenthe substrate and the thin film encapsulation layer and arranged arounda pixel region; and at least one layer of a blocking dam in thenon-display region, wherein a different arrangement of spacers are in acenter region and an edge region of the display region, the differentarrangement corresponding to at least one of a size and a number of thespacers.
 2. The flexible display apparatus as claimed in claim 1,wherein the pixels are in an entire region of the display region, atleast one of the spacers is arranged for each pixel, and the blockingdam surrounds the display region.
 3. The flexible display apparatus asclaimed in claim 2, wherein: an area of the display region decreasesaway from the center region toward the edge region, and an area of eachspacer in one of the center region or the edge region is greater than anarea of each spacer in the other of the center region or the edgeregion.
 4. The flexible display apparatus as claimed in claim 3, whereinthe area of each spacer in the edge region is greater than the area ofeach spacer in the center region.
 5. The flexible display apparatus asclaimed in claim 4, wherein a total area of a plurality of spacersarranged consecutively in one line in the edge region of the displayregion is equal to a total area of a plurality of spacers arrangedconsecutively in one line in the center region of the display region. 6.The flexible display apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein a width ofa portion of the blocking dam outside the edge region is greater than awidth of a portion of the blocking dam outside the center region of thedisplay region.
 7. The flexible display apparatus as claimed in claim 6,wherein the larger-width portion of the blocking dam is outside a regionwhere the larger-area spacer is arranged.
 8. The flexible displayapparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the area of each spacer in thecenter region and the edge region is greater than an area of each spacerin a region between the center region and the edge region.
 9. Theflexible display apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein: an area ofthe display region decreases away from the center region toward the edgeregion, and a number of spacers in one of the center region or the edgeregion is greater than a number of spacers in the other of the centerregion and the edge region.
 10. The flexible display apparatus asclaimed in claim 9, wherein the number of spacers arranged in the edgeregion of the display region is larger than the number of spacersarranged in the center region of the display region.
 11. The flexibledisplay apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein a total number ofspacers arranged consecutively in one line in the edge region is equalto a total number of spacers arranged consecutively in one line in thecenter region.
 12. The flexible display apparatus as claimed in claim 9,wherein the number of spacers in the center region and the edge regionis greater than a number of spacers in a region between the centerregion and the edge region.
 13. The flexible display apparatus asclaimed in claim 9, wherein: the blocking dam includes a plurality ofblocking dams, and the blocking dams are outside the display region andspaced apart from each other.
 14. The flexible display apparatus asclaimed in claim 2, wherein: at least one functional film among apolarization film, a touch sensing unit, or a cover window is on adisplay panel including the substrate and the thin film encapsulationlayer, and a region including larger-area spacers or a larger number ofspacers correspond to a region where a greater lamination pressure isapplied than a region including smaller-area spacers or a smaller numberof spacers when the display panel and the functional film are laminated.15. The flexible display apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein: afirst pressure is applied to the edge region, a second pressure isapplied to the center region, and the first pressure is greater than thesecond pressure.
 16. The flexible display apparatus as claimed in claim14, wherein: a first pressure is applied to the center region and theedge region, and a second pressure is applied to a region between thecenter region and the edge region, the first pressure greater than thesecond pressure.
 17. The flexible display apparatus as claimed in claim1, wherein the display region is circular.
 18. The flexible displayapparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein: a thin film transistorincludes a semiconductor active layer, a gate electrode, a sourceelectrode, and a drain electrode, a display device is connected to thethin film transistor, and at least one insulating layer is between thethin film transistor and the display device over the substrate, and thespacer corresponds to the insulating layer around a pixel region wherethe display device emits light.
 19. The flexible display apparatus asclaimed in claim 18, wherein: the blocking dam is in a same layer as atleast one of a first insulating layer covering a portion of thesemiconductor active layer, a second insulating layer covering a portionof the gate electrode, a third insulating layer covering a portion ofthe drain electrode and the source electrode, a fourth insulating layerdefining a pixel region where the display device is arranged, or a fifthinsulating layer arranged around the pixel region.